The Ravens have acquired center A.Q. Shipley from the Indianapolis Colts for a conditional 2014 draft pick, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome announced Thursday morning.

Shipley, who turns 27 next week, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2009 and spent that season with the Steelers practice squad. He was on the Eagles practice squad the next season, and then joined the Colts last season. He was originally signed to the Colts practice squad, then elevated to the 53-man roster in October. He played in 14 games with five starts in 2012.

It was widely believed that the Ravens wanted to bring in a veteran center to compete with second-year center Gino Gradkowski for the starting job, which is open after the retirement of Matt Birk. The Ravens also drafted center Ryan Jensen in the sixth round out of Colorado State-Pueblo.

Shipley (6-1, 309) was an All-American at Penn State and was named the Big Ten's Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior.

"I can't say enough about ... all the awesome fans in this beautiful city of indianapolis!" Shipley tweeted. "I look forward to going to baltimore and continuing my journey and to do everything i can to help the Ravens organization win!"